This week, we’re excited to share some information about eight cars that charge faster than our Chevy Bolt EV. Based on the feedback we get on our channel, people who don’t yet own an EV worry most about range and about the time it takes to charge.
We love our Chevy Bolt. Today, we believe it is the most affordable EV option with more than 200 miles of range. By current standards, however, the Bolt charges pretty slowly.
Recently, we took a 2,000-mile road trip in our Bolt and genuinely enjoyed it. Charging didn’t ruin our trip. We’re excited to share a list of eight 2022 cars that charge much faster!
Below, we’ll share a detailed table with the information we gathered about some EVs that charge faster than our Chevy Bolt.
We’ll rank the vehicles on our list from slowest to fastest charging.
Number 8: Polestar 2 Long Range 2WD
The Polestar has a price tag of $48,400, putting it in the more affordable half of the list. It has an EPA-rated range of 270 miles. Our estimate is that you can add 5.7 miles per minute, about 60 percent faster than our Bolt.
It is important to remember that we’re talking about peak charging rates. All EVs slow the charging rate as the battery fills. Slowing begins as early as halfway and is significant above 80 percent.
Number 7: Tesla Model Y Long Range Dual Motor
All Teslas charge faster than our Bolt, but this one may be the fastest in terms of miles per minute because it is so efficient.
The Model Y has a price of about $66,000; it offers an impressive EPA-rated range of 330 miles. It is the only car on the list that is more energy efficient than our Bolt–though just barely–with an EPA-rated MPGe of 122. It charges at a peak rate of 6.2 miles per minute.
Wow! At that rate, you could add 125 miles of range in just 20 minutes!
Number 6: Rivian R1T
We’re excited about the next vehicle on the list because we’ve got one ordered! We pre-ordered the “max” pack battery and won’t get it until Christmas of 2023. That’s a Christmas present we’re excited to get!
The R1T base model comes with the biggest battery on the list–which is important because it is the least efficient, earning an MPGe rating of 70. Of course, it is unfair to compare a truck to a car. The battery holds 129 kWh giving the truck a range of 314 miles. Charging at a peak rate of 220 kW, you can add 7.6 miles per minute, more than twice the Bolt’s charging rate even though the Bolt is almost twice as efficient.
We can’t wait to get ours!
Number 5: Mercedes EQS 580
With a list price of almost $120,000, Number 5 is so pricey I don’t even dare dream about it! The EQS 580 is remarkably efficient.
For such a large, luxury vehicle, its MPGe of 95 is impressive. The big 108 kWh battery gives it a 340-mile range. Its peak charging rate is 8.2 miles per minute.
Remember, you can’t extrapolate far. Most of these cars can’t maintain the peak rate past halfway full. Starting with a near-empty battery, most of these cars can maintain the peak rate for 10 to 15 minutes adding 100 to 150 miles of range!
Now, let’s talk about the most affordable car on today’s list.
Number 4: Hyundai Ioniq 5 Long Range 2WD
It is particularly impressive because we believe you can charge this car from 10 percent to 80 percent in under 30 minutes!
This car is remarkable. It is a popular car we frequently see at charging stations. With a 77.4 kWh battery, it gets a 114 MPGe rating and a 303-mile range rating from the EPA. That efficiency combines with a peak charging rate of about 175 kW to deliver an estimated 9.7 miles per minute! That’s approaching three times the rate of our Bolt!
Number 3: Audi e-tron GT quattro
The Number 3 car on the list is the Audi e-tron GT quattro with a price tag of $102,400.
Like the Ioniq 5, it is a member of the 80 percent in under 30 minutes club!
This one is definitely out of our price range, but boy, can it charge quickly! It has an 83.7 kWh battery with a modest range of 238 miles–less than the Bolt! With an MPGe of 82, it is more efficient than only the Rivian and one other car on the list. It charges at an impressive 10.7 miles per minute, fully three times as fast as the Bolt.
Number 2: Porsche Taycan Plus
The Taycan doesn’t just charge quickly, it is fast, with a top speed of around 160 miles per hour. It has a price tag that begins at $82,700. Top-of-the-line models more than double that price!
The Porsche has a modest range of just 225 miles with its 84 kWh battery. Its 75 MPGe rating is better only than the Rivian’s–and just barely. We understand this Porsche can charge at its peak rate for only four minutes, but for that brief period, it can add 10.8 miles per minute.
Number 1: Kia EV6 Long Range 2WD
We love that the fastest charging car on the list is affordable!
The EV6 is also a member of the 80% in under 30 minutes club. Kia and Hyundai are cousin companies and share some parts, but the Kia EV6 beats its cousin in charging speed. With a list price of $41,400, it is cheaper than every other car on the list except the Hyundai. It has a range of 274 miles and an MPGe rating of 106. With a peak charging rate of over 200 kW you can add 10.8 miles per minute. That ties the Porsche, but the Kia isn’t capped strictly at four minutes, so we give it the title of fastest charging EV on our list.
See the latest updates to our database here. We admit our list isn’t comprehensive. We’ve relied in large part on a ranking published by Electrek.co.
We hope this helps you get more comfortable that there is–or soon will be–an EV that is right for you!
8 Cars That Charge Faster Than a Chevy Bolt EV